All guides
- Guide
Allen Wrench Sizes: Metric and SAE Hex Key Chart
Allen wrench (hex key) sizes in mm and inches, which key fits which metric and inch socket cap screw, and how close metric and SAE keys really are.
- Guide
Sliding vs Non-Sliding Compound Miter Saw
How a sliding and a non-sliding compound miter saw differ in crosscut width, space, weight and accuracy, and which one suits trim, framing or wide boards.
- Guide
Table Saw Fence: Types and How to Square One
The main table saw fence types, how to check and adjust a fence so it sits parallel to the blade, and why the fence must never double as a crosscut stop.
- Guide
Welding Cart: Size, Capacity and DIY vs Bought
What a welding cart carries, how to pick one by weight capacity, cylinder tray and wheels, when a DIY cart makes sense, and how to secure the gas cylinder.
- Guide
Welding Tools: Starter Kit for a Home Shop
The hand tools a home welder needs besides the machine: chipping hammer, wire brush, grinder, clamps, magnets, pliers and a square, with what each one does.
- Guide
Hole Saw Sizes: Chart From 3/4 in to 6 in and Uses
Standard hole saw sizes in inches and mm, what each size cuts, which hole saw type suits wood, metal, tile and masonry, and how to cut a clean hole.
- Guide
Wrench Sizes: Metric to SAE Conversion Chart
Wrench size chart from 6 mm to 30 mm with the nearest SAE inch size, which pairs are close enough to swap, and the wrench size for common metric and inch bolts.
- Guide
Hacksaw: Blade TPI, Types and How to Use One
What a hacksaw is used for, which blade TPI (14, 18, 24 or 32) suits each metal, how to fit the blade, and how to cut straight without breaking blades.
- Guide
Stick Welder: Amps, Rods and What to Look For
How a stick welder works, how much amperage and duty cycle you need, which rods (6011, 6013, 7018) go with which jobs, and AC vs DC machines.
- Guide
Power Tool Combo Kits: What to Look For Before Buying
How to choose a cordless power tool combo kit: battery platform, which tools you'll use, battery size, brushless motors, charger and what's left out.
- Guide
Chain Wrench vs Oil Filter Wrench: Uses and Types
Chain wrench vs oil filter wrench: what each grips, the types of filter wrench (cap, band, three-jaw, strap), and which to use for pipes and filters.
- Guide
Flooring Nailers: Manual vs Pneumatic, Cleats vs Staples
Flooring nailers for tongue-and-groove hardwood: manual vs pneumatic, cleats vs staples, fastener sizes, and how to nail a floor.
- Guide
How to Sharpen a Chainsaw: File vs Electric Sharpener
How to sharpen a chainsaw chain with a round file or an electric sharpener: file size by chain pitch, filing angles, depth gauges and when to sharpen.
- Guide
Can I Use an 18V Battery in a 14.4V Drill? Risks Involved
Why an 18V battery shouldn't go in a 14.4V drill: cell counts, what the extra voltage does to the motor, and the same answer for 12V and 24V tools.
- Guide
How to Charge a Drill Battery Without a Charger (Safely)
Why a lithium drill battery needs a charger made for it, the safe ways to charge it when yours is missing or far from an outlet, and the methods to avoid.
- Guide
Are Cordless Drill Batteries and Chargers Interchangeable?
Which cordless drill batteries and chargers swap between tools: across brands, within one brand, between 18V and 20V, and what adapters really do.
- Best picks
6 Best Brad Point Drill Bit Sets for Woodworking
Brad point drill bit sets for clean, accurate holes in wood: what the center spur does, sizes and shank types, plus six sets compared.
- Guide
Can You Drill Through Cast Iron? Bits, Speed and Steps
Yes, cast iron can be drilled with cobalt or TiN-coated HSS bits. Which bit, what speed, why gray iron is drilled dry, and the step-by-step method.
- Guide
How to Get a Stuck Drill Bit Out of a Drill Chuck
How to remove a drill bit stuck in the chuck, whole or snapped off: loosening a jammed keyless or keyed chuck, and how to stop it happening again.
- Guide
Masonry Drill Bits: How to Drill Concrete and Brick
Which masonry drill bit to use for concrete, brick and block: carbide-tipped vs SDS-plus vs SDS-max, the right bit size for anchors, and how to drill cleanly.
- Best picks
4 Best Countersink Drill Bit Sets for Wood
Countersink bit sets for wood screws: tapered, fluted and combined pilot-and-countersink bits, the 82° angle, and four sets compared.
- Guide
Do All Drill Bits Fit All Drills? Shanks and Chucks
Which drill bits fit which drills: round and hex shanks in keyed and keyless chucks, 1/4-inch hex impact drivers, and SDS-plus and SDS-max hammers.
- Guide
How to Drill a Hole in a Granite Countertop
How to drill granite countertops for faucets and fittings: diamond core bits, wet versus dry drilling, slow speed, and how to avoid chips and cracks.
- Best picks
7 Best Cobalt Drill Bits for Hardened Steel
Cobalt drill bits (M35 and M42) for hardened and stainless steel: how they differ from titanium-coated bits, drilling speed, and seven sets compared.
- Guide
Left-Hand vs Right-Hand Drill Bits: Differences and Uses
What left-hand drill bits are, how they differ from right-hand bits, and how to use one in reverse to remove a broken bolt or screw, step by step.
- Best picks
Best Drill Bits for Metal: Types, Picks and Buying Guide
Drill bits for steel and other metals: HSS, titanium-coated, cobalt M35 and M42, step bits and split points, with ten bits and sets compared.
- Guide
What Size Is a Number 7 Drill Bit? Inches and mm
A number 7 drill bit is 0.201 inch (5.105 mm), between 13/64 and #8. How number sizes work, the nearest fractional and metric bits, and what a #7 is for.
- Guide
How to Drill Holes in Plexiglass Without Cracking It
How to drill plexiglass (acrylic) without cracking or melting it: the right bit, low speed, a backing board, tape and cooling, step by step.
- Best picks
9 Best Diamond Drill Bits for Porcelain Tile
Diamond drill bits for porcelain tile compared: core bit vs diamond-tipped, sizes for pipes and fixtures, and how to drill porcelain without cracking it.
- Guide
1/4-20 Tap Drill Bit Size: What Size to Use and Why
The tap drill for a 1/4-20 thread is a #7 bit (0.201 in). Clearance hole sizes, the 13/64 and 5.1 mm alternatives, and how to drill and tap the hole.